# NTSB investigations: Rudder NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports. ## Latest cases - [NTSB CEN25LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA086.md): American Champion 7ECA · Longview, TX · Incident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jan 16, 2025 · N798L · Substantial damage > The failure of the lower hinge barrel due to fatigue cracking. Contributing to the failure of the lower hinge barrel was increased stress from end face contact likely associated with worn bushings or displaced needle bearings. - [NTSB CEN24LA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA162.md): American Champion 7ECA · Longview, TX · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 12, 2024 · N793L · Substantial damage > The rudder post’s failure due to corrosion fatigue. Contributing to the accident were the misalignment of the rudder hinge components, which produced mechanical binding and elevated localized stress, and a compromised the protective coating, which allowed… - [NTSB WPR24LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA038.md): Beech 95 · Yuma, AZ · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 18, 2023 · N2024C · Substantial damage > Aeroelastic flutter of the rudder control surface during the takeoff initial climb for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence, which resulted in the fracture of the rudder trim control rod end in flight. - [NTSB ANC21LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA064.md): Piper PA-14 · Anchorage, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 23, 2021 · N4206H · Substantial damage > The fatigue fracture of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 1025 carbon steel rudder post, which resulted in structural failure of the rudder. Contributing to the fatigue failure was the post’s susceptibility to fatigue cracking under normal service… - [NTSB CEN20LA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA294.md): Rockwell S2R · Harlan, IA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 20, 2020 · N1662S · Substantial damage > The fatigue fracture of the upper rudder hinge that resulted in a partial separation of the rudder from the airplane during a spray pass. - [NTSB ANC20LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA059.md): Piper PA 12 · Anchorage, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 8, 2020 · N3188M · Substantial damage > The fatigue fracture of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 1025 carbon steel rudder post, which resulted in structural failure of the rudder. Contributing to the fatigue failure was the post’s susceptibility to fatigue cracking under normal service… - [NTSB ERA20LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA051.md): Parsons Two Place #1 · Naguabo, PR · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 8, 2019 · N446PS · Substantial damage > A failure of the rudder attachment bolt, which resulted in the rudder’s subsequent inflight separation from the fuselage. - [NTSB GAA19CA383](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA383.md): Piper PA28 · Milton, FL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 25, 2019 · N5697V · Substantial damage > The flight instructor's intentional overapplication of rudder to avoid a ditch during landing with a tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and landing gear collapse. - [NTSB GAA18CA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA154.md): Cessna 207 · Newtok, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 25, 2018 · N1658U · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to properly check that the flight controls were correctly configured before takeoff. - [NTSB WPR17FA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA134.md): Jordan John RV7 · Arlington, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 27, 2017 · N731RV · Destroyed > The inflight overstress separation of the vertical stabilizer and rudder during flight which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain airplane control. Contributing to the accident was an inflight collision with a bird. - [NTSB CEN16LA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA281.md): Vans RV9 · Springfield, OH · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 22, 2016 · N807LK · Destroyed > The pilot’s decision to fly into known thunderstorms, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. - [NTSB GAA16CA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA088.md): Day William L Minicoupe · Middle River, MD · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Dec 20, 2015 · N853WD · Substantial damage > The pilot's incorrect installation of the rudder horn and failure to properly inspect the installation, which led to a loss of directional control during takeoff. - [NTSB WPR16FA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16FA036.md): Barnett Allen S RV7 · Hurricane, UT · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Dec 10, 2015 · N307AB · Substantial damage > The pilot’s aerobatic maneuver leading to airspeeds above the airplane’s never exceed speed, which resulted in rudder flutter and an in-flight breakup. - [NTSB CEN13CA550](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA550.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Princeton, MN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 13, 2013 · N526PU · Substantial damage > An in-flight collision with a bald eagle. - [NTSB CEN10CA569](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA569.md): Central Ohio Dragonfly Clubllc DRAGONFLY-C · Orient, OH · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Sep 26, 2010 · N667DF · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to disconnect the tow bridal line prior to takeoff. ## The whole list in SQL Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS: ```sql SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '01035540')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035540/cases --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.